TWO members of the Australian media pack covering Schapelle Corby’s release are being deported from Bali for visa violations.

Indonesian Immigration Department officials have accused Network Ten reporter Daniel Sutton and freelance photographer Nathan Richter of violating Indonesian Immigration law article number 122 by working as journalists in the country while on tourist visas.

Officials announced the deportations at a press conference in Bali today.

Both are being sent back to Australia on a Virgin Air flight at 1.30pm local time.

The head of Bali’s Justice and Human Rights Ministry Gusti Kompiang Adnyana said both men, in Bali covering the ongoing Schapelle Corby saga, would be banned from entering Indonesia for the next six months and that this period could be extended.

Sutton was picked up by Immigration officers on Wednesday while doing a piece to camera in Kuta near the compound of Mercedes Corby — Schapelle’s sister — and her husband Wayan Widyartha.

Sutton told News Corp from Ngurah Rai International Airport that he had been picked up around the corner from the family compound where Corby is staying.

“It was on the main street around the corner from the Corby house. It wasn’t like we were outside their front door or anything like that,” he said.

“I’d only landed that morning. I got down to Kuta at midday and was picked up about 2pm.

“They were very friendly. There were no problems. They just asked to see my passport and I voluntarily went with them to the immigration office and just answered their questions.”

Sutton said both he and Richter were questioned at the immigration office for about eight hours.

“I could have left but they had more they wanted to talk to me about so there was no problem. It was a lot of waiting around and them just asking me about my visa,” he said.

“I went back to my hotel that night and went back to see them for more questioning the next day.

“It was very friendly. There was no agro. It was fine. It was literally just a conversation. It wasn’t anything to be concerned about.”

Sutton said he was just disappointed to be heading home.

“I’m feeling disappointed that I’m leaving. I was sent over here to do a job and I’m disappointed that I can’t be doing that job anymore but you have to accept what they say and I’m being deported so I have to go,” he said.

“We haven’t actually formally been told we’re being black-listed for six months but it’s been indicated to us that that’s what’s likely to happen.

A sizeable media contingent has been in Bali since before Corby’s February 10 release.

Mr Adnyana said the detentions were a part of his office’s work to arrest and send home anyone found violating immigration laws.

“Foreign journalists should have a journalist visit visa. And get agreement from Indonesian Foreign Affairs and the communication and information ministry,” he said.

Asked if the arrests were made based on information or reports from the public or from Mercedes Corby, Mr Adnyana said: “No, it is not, we did it ourselves. We evaluate and we take action. We have a special team to supervise foreigners. We will increase our work.”

He said there had been no report to his office from anyone about the activity of foreign journalists working in Bali on the Corby story.

He was also asked if the Immigration Department had checked the visas of the Seven Network’s Sunday Night crew, who stayed in the Sentosa villa complex for three weeks with the Corby family, filming her story and an interview with Mercedes Corby, which has since become controversial.

Mr Adnyana said his officers had been there at the time but had only observed from a distance because the situation was “too crowded”. He did not elaborate on what this meant.

“We hope that all foreigners understand that they should come by following the procedure,” he said.

Members of the foreign press must have a journalist visa to be allowed to work in Indonesia. However the process for obtaining a journalist visa is lengthy and time-consuming, often taking weeks for approval. It is understood that on breaking and fast-moving stories there is not time to obtain the necessary visa.

The deportations come as Indonesia’s Justice Minister considers whether Corby has violated her parole and should be sent back to jail after the Sunday Night broadcast.